fu1俘
Jyutpingfu1
Yalefū
Definition
Prisoner of war; a captive enemy who has been stripped of their freedom.
writtenpeople
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used as a bound morpheme in formal or historical contexts. It rarely appears as a standalone word in spoken Cantonese, functioning instead as a component in compound nouns like 戰俘. It carries a heavy, serious tone associated with military history rather than everyday life.
Examples
They captured many prisoners of war after that battle.
How are they treating those prisoners of war?
Related words
Common phrases
prisoner of war
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is not used in isolation to mean 'to capture' in modern speech. Use 捉 or 擒 instead when describing the act of catching someone.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
